
Originally Posted by
Fenster

Originally Posted by
Bilbo

Originally Posted by
Violent Demise
116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm
The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.
It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but
I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.
That's the most pathetic notion in boxing.
The champion doesn't get a head start. He fights under the exact same rules as the challenger. If you are naturally favouring the belt holder your scoring is clearly flawed/worthless.
And if you think Macklin was hitting just gloves and arms, checkout the left side of Sturms body. It was red raw after just a few rounds.
I don't literally mean that the champion should be judged differently from the challenger I'm simply being realistic regarding the subjective nature of scoring in boxing, and the influences put on the judges.
If you are going into a champions backyard, against both him and his fans you really have to prove yourself the better fighter to get the nod. That's just the way it is. Macklin for me didn't do that. Sure he started well and was up at the halfway stage you would have to imagine but he faded down the stretch as Sturm came on.
If you look at the fight under the following criteria I think Sturm deserved the win.
Accurate punching and boxing skills, Sturm
Most damaging shots, Sturm
Who was winning and would likely have won had the fight continued, Sturm
Now, scoring on a rbr Macklin "may" have won the fight, I didn't score rbr so can't comment. I felt Wtt's card of 114-114 apiece was about right. But looking at the flow of the fight and who "won" just by watching the overall flow of the fight I felt Sturm won it as he finished clearly on top and Macklin had very little left.
If he would have got the nod it would been a somewhat controversial win in my eyes as I felt Strum displayed the better boxing skills, was more accurate, and beat up his opponent by the end. On a rbr maybe Macklin won more rounds if I added them up (I cannot be botherd though) but I fwlt the better boxer and true winner got the decision.
Kind of like Matthyse's losses to Judah and Alexander but in reverse. For me he won both of those fights because he landed clearly the more hurtful shots and finished on top, looking like the boss, but rbr scoring led to him losing them both rather unjustly in my eyes.
Sturm's result went in his favour as he's the hometown fighter and champion for sure, but I think he deserved it and would favour him again in a rematch.
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